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Ferrari and Red Bull revert to original test dates

Red Bull and Ferrari will now test with the rest of the teams from Thursday to Sunday later this week © Sutton Images

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Ferrari and Red Bull have been forced to revert to their original testing schedules after the FIA informed the teams that they were not allowed to start and finish their final test a day later than the other teams.

It emerged last week that Ferrari had decided to test from March 2 to March 5 instead of March 1 through March 4 for logistical reasons. Red Bull then asked to join Ferrari and changed its dates too. However, a clarification of the rules by the FIA has meant both teams will return to the original plan of testing from March 1 to March 4.

"A further change of plan for the final test session prior to departure for Australia," read a Ferrari statement. "Based on a new clarification of Article 22.4 of the Sporting Regulations, which was sent to the teams late yesterday evening, it is no longer possible to run on Monday 5 March: as a result, the test schedule for Scuderia Ferrari and the other teams that had originally decided to follow this option now reverts to that of the majority, running from Thursday 1 March to Sunday 4 March.

"The order in which our drivers will be working remains unchanged: Felipe Massa will be at the wheel of the F2012 on Thursday and Saturday, with Fernando Alonso driving on Friday and Sunday."

Lotus has yet to announce its testing plans for the final week after it lost the best part of four days at the last test with a chassis problem. The team was seeking an extra day but requires the agreement of its rivals.

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